small bear bean paste buns

How to Make Adorable Bear-shaped Red Bean Buns

Making bear-shaped red bean buns is a fun and rewarding experience. Here’s a simple guide to create these fluffy, cute treats.

Ingredients: For the dough, you’ll need 300g all-purpose flour, 3g yeast, 30g sugar, 15g butter, 150ml warm milk, and a pinch of salt. For the filling, prepare 200g cooked red beans mashed with 20g sugar (adjust to taste).

Steps:

1. Prepare the dough: Dissolve yeast and sugar in warm milk, let sit for 5 minutes until frothy. Mix in flour and salt, knead into a smooth dough. Add butter and knead until elastic. Let the dough rise in a warm place for 1 hour until doubled in size.

2. Make filling: While the dough rises, cook mashed red beans with sugar until thick. Cool completely.

3. Shape the buns: Punch down the dough and divide into small portions (about 50g each). Flatten each portion, wrap in 1-2 tbsp red bean filling, and seal tightly.

4. Form the bear: Roll a small piece of dough into a ball for the head and two slightly larger balls for the body. Attach them, using a toothpick to help. Add two tiny dough balls for ears, and black sesame seeds for eyes.

5. Proof and steam: Let the shaped buns rise for 20 minutes. Steam over medium heat for 15-20 minutes. Rest for 5 minutes before serving.

These buns are soft, sweet, and perfect for breakfast or snacks. Enjoy your homemade bear bean buns!